Integrating restoration techniques and wildlife monitoring: first record of the giant anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) in the Alma Guaraní Reserve, Argentine Humid Chaco

Abstract Introduction Ecological restoration is vital for enhancing resilience and connectivity in productive landscapes. At the Alma Guaraní Reserve (AGR), long‐term exclusion of fire, grazing, and hunting, combined with native tree planting, has restored forest structure. We document the first indication of potential return by the giant anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) after nearly four decades without confirmed records. Objectives We evaluated the role of restoration practices in recovering habitat for large mammals, documented the occurrence and activity of M. tridactyla via camera‐traps, and discussed the implications for future restoration and connectivity in the Argentine Humid Chaco. Methods Passive and active restoration began in 2021. Wildlife was monitored using 20 camera‐trap stations across three habitat zones from November 2024 to October 2025. Results Restoration promoted significant vegetation recovery and microhabitat heterogeneity. Camera trapping documented the first record of M. tridactyla in the area, occurring in the central sector within an area under passive restoration. Conclusions The occurrence of M. tridactyla in northwestern Corrientes highlights the species' dispersal capacity and the role of integrated restoration in landscape connectivity. Findings suggest that long‐term disturbance exclusion, combined with structural enhancement, facilitates the movement of large mammals through productive matrices. These restored areas provide critical stepping stones for the recovery of threatened megafauna in the Argentine Humid Chaco.